Magneto electric generator



Aug. 26, 1924.' 1,506,569

H. G. COX

MAGNETO ELECTRIC GENERATOR Filed Sept. 9.. 1921 l 6 Sheets-Sheet l i* fra/722302K? f/@UW (50C- Aug.; ze, 192,4,

FL (5.(:CDX

MAGNETO ELECTRIC GENERATOR Filed Sept. 9, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 26, 1924.` 1,506,569

H. G. cox

MAGNET@ ELECTRIC GENERATOR Filed Sept. 9. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A'ug. 26,` 1924. 1,506,569

H. G. cox

MAGNETO ELECTRIC GENERATOR Filed sept. 9. 1921 6 sheets-Sheet 4 y /W/y (55C.

Aug. 26, 1924.` 1,506,569

H. G. cox

MAGNET@ ELECTRIC GENERATOR Filed Sept. 9,' 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. v26, 1924. 1,506,569

H. Ggcox MAGNETO ELECTRIC GENERATOR Filed Sept. 9. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. COX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MAGNETO ELECTRIC GENERATOR.

Application filed September T0 @ZZ 'LU/wm it may Conce/m.'

Be it known that I, HENRY Cr. COX, a citizen of the United States, residing at 6729 Clyde Avenue, Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement inv Magneto Electric Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in magneto electric generators and is here shown as embodied in a device especially adapted tor use in connection with internal combustion engine ignition. My improved generator is very neat and compact and very ellicient. It is also so constructed that it can easily be designed for installation inside the fly wheel of an internal combustion engine. `Other features and advantages Ot the device will appear more fully as I proceed with my specilication.

The invention will be `fully understood from the following specilieation and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a device embodying the features ot my invention, Fig. 2 is a view ot the same in side elevation, Fig. 3 is a VView taken as indicated at line 3 ot Fig. 2, Fig. fl is a view in perspective ot a part ot the device, Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the ends ot' the permanent lield magnet showing the pole pieces attached thereto, Figs. 6 and 7 are views in perspective of the armature pole shoes, Figs. 8 to 13 are views showing successive positions of certain partsI during the operation ot' the device, Fig. lil is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the device and Fig. l5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing another modilied form.

I have here shown a generator, embodying the features of my invention, adapted for use in connection with an internal combustion engine and driven thereby, vto deliver a high tension current tor use in ignition. It is obvious however that, without detracting from the spirit of my invention, such a generator could be driven by other means than an internal combustion engine and could be adapted to deliver either a high tension or low tension current as desired for use in engine ignition or tor any other desired purpose.

As shown in the drawings, 20 indicates the shaft of an internal combustion engine having mounted thereon in any suitable manner as by means of the key 2l, a tly- Serial No. 499,465,

wheel 22. The hub of the fly-wheel is indicated by 23.

Mounted on the hub 23 is a lield magnet carrying case comprising primarily a circular plate 25 having a central hole adapted to tit over the hub 23. The central hole is provided with a circular flange 26 Jforming a sleeve fitting snugly over the hub 23. The outer edge of the plate 25 is surrounded by a lange or rim 27 as shown. Rotation oic the magnet carrying case on the hub 23 is prevented by means of the pin 28 which locks the hub 28 and sleeve 26 together. The pin 28 is held in position shown by means of a small spiral spring 29. The magnet carrying case is preferably made of aluminum, although, it desired it may be made of any other suitable material. Concent-rically mounted within the magnet carrying case is a circular permanent field magnet 3l which is held in place by means o1' suitable rivets 82 holding it to the bosses 33 projecting from the plate 25 as shown. I have arbitrarily indicatedthe two ends of the permanent field magnet by N and S (see Fig. 5) and it will be noted that there is an air gap between the two poles as indicated by 35. Each ot' the poles of the permanent ield magnet is provided with two pole pieces of suitable metal to assist in concentrating the magnetic flux at such points. rIhe pole pieces on the outer sides of the poles N and S are indicated by 37 and 3S respectively, and those on the inside by 39 and l0 respectively.

I will now describe the armature. The various parts of the armature are mounted on a carrier which is formed as shown in perspective in Fig. 4l. I have indicated this carrier in general by the reference numeral 50. It will be noted that it comprises a hub 51 carrying a Hat upwardly projecting part- 52 having mounted on its end a segment ot a circular rim as indicated by 53. Projecting upwardly from one edge ot the rim at its ends are two arms 54 having their outer ends bent at right angles to lie above the rim 53 and parallel with the tace thereof as indicated by 55. The sleeve 5l lits over the sleeve 26, and two bushings and 6l of steel and brass respectively are `interposed between the two in order to reduce frictional wear. A suitable thrust washer G3 is also provided at the inner end of the sleeve 5l and the inner ends of the bushings 60 and 61 in order to reduce wear at these points.

Cil

An upper armature c` re head Tt) inomite-zi between the arms by n'ieans ot the rivets 7l which extend through suitable holes in the parts, and :i lowerl armature core head 5 is mounted on tice segmental rim 513 by means ot rivets 71S extendi' through snitable holes T7 in the parts. The armature core heads 70 and are prorit ed with extensions having holes 8O and Si resgc adapted to receive a bar whicl. carri armature core preferably made up et iron wires. The core 83 is surrounded a primary windii'ig ol' relatively l: wire, and this coil in turn is surroiuided a secondary winding or coil 85 ot relati fine wire. The coils and S5 are enclose( L rely by a casing 8'? made ol.: hard rubber or other suitable material. 'lhe lower ai rature core head 75 has its ends turned ai rdiff (sec Fig. 7.) to form the Yfaces 75 and To. "ifheu the parts are mounted in position. as shot-.fu in Figs. 2 and 3, the permanent t d magnet 3l lies between the armature core heads 70 and 75, and these heads are close enough together so that the ends ot the permanent field magnet with their pole pieces wiil barely pass between. r'xs the ci oit such magnet pass between, the pole ieces 23.7 and 38, which are curved on top, -will pass very close to and adjacent the lower correspfnnh ingly curved :tace 70 oit the core head and* the inner concayely ,nrred surfaces n they pole pieces and l0 will likewise pass rei-yl close to and adjacent the curved iacs T5 and '75D of the armature head .75.

The connections on the coils 5i-ft and are made as iollows.` One end Qt) ot the primary coil Set is grounded and the other end 91, is fastened to a connecter 92 .'vlivh is suitably insulated from the grounfjl. Frein the connection 92, an insulated circuit leads to one oil the contacts ot a circuit breaker 93. The other contact of the circuit breaker 93 is mounted on the end ot a short arm 94: which is fastened to a rocker shaft 95 at one end. This contact is grounded. rlfhe other end oit the rocher shatt i, provided with a short arm 96. The tro points oi' 25, to rock lthe sha-tt and cause l in the circuit at 93, by separation ci Contact. points. When the circuit bre-alter or,

is open, the end 91 oi the primary coil Se is not grounded, and when the circuit breaker is closed, such end 9i is grounded, and the coil theretore short circuited. One

current is desired, such as the spark plug oit the engine. A suitable condenser 10T is provided having one side attached to the connector' 92 and the other side grounded.

i will now describe the operation oi the device. ln Fig. 2 the arrow indicates the direction ot rotation ot the ily-Wheel. The armature carrier is held against rotation by means ot rod 110, one end of which is attached to one ot the arms /-i and the other end attached to any suitable iixed part. liieans may also be provided, it desired, t0 shift the position oit the carrier 50 in order to assist in timing. 'l he magnet carrier and permanent magnet rotate with the fly-wheel olI the engine, the magnet and its pole pieces pissing between the armature heads and The movement and i5 as described above. operation ot the parts is best shown in Figs. t. to i3, in which the direction of the rotation o'lE the magnet 8l is indicated by the arrow, and successive positions are shown in tie ligures in sequence. As shown in Fig. c the pole piece 39 on the N pole of the agnet first comes opposite the 'face T5 oi 'Vhen in this position, the an .M in

the head 75.

mature core will be placed in N magnetic state, but there will be practically no magnetic tlow therethrough. Such magnetic state Viil assist in the magnetic flow to fol low as hereinafter described. Upon further rotation ot the magnet 3l, the pole piece 3T will come opposite the itace 70 ot' the head TO, and thel pole piece 40 will meet the face Ta", as shown in Fig. 9. Further rotation will bring the N pole piece 3T directly under the head TO and the S pole piece 4:() directly over the tace D ot the head T5 (see Fig. lo). Vilhcn in this position there will be a roug magnetic tiow through the core 83 om. the head to to the head 75, assuming the magnetic tlow to be 'from N to S. Further rotation will more the pernizfinent niagnet, so that the head TO will bridge the pole pieces 3? and 38, the two 'licesa and 75 oi the head i5 will span the pole pieces 39 and ll0 (see Fig. li). Vhen in this posilion, all magnetic How through the armature core will be momentarily cut ott' since none et the pole pieces oit the liermanent magnet are adjacent any ot the faces of the armature core heads. Further rotation will bring the pole piece 38 opposite the head 70 and the pole piece 39 opposite the tace 75 of the head 75. lVhen in this position (see Fig. fifi), it will be noted that .magnetic flow is through the core 83 from the head 75 to the head 'T0 or in a reverso direction 'from that shown when the parts are in position shown in Fig. l0. .Further rotation, as shown in Fig. 13, will bring the pole piece a() opposite the tat 75: The stopping and reversal of magnetic dow through the core 83 will cause a flow ot current in the primary coil 84 if the saine be short circuited. The stopping of such flow will induce a flow of current in the secondary coil in the usual manner. The greatest amount of current through the .primary coil will be soon after the reversal of direction of magnetic flow through the core 83. I vThe apparatus is timed so that the circuit breaker 93 will open when such flow of current through the primary coilis greatest or nearly so. Such opening of the contact 93, thus breaking the fiow o f current through the primary coil, willinduce a current in the secondary coil85, and the apparatus is so timed that this break, and delivery of current will be given as required by the spark plug. The eXact timing will depend upon the firing requirements, magnetic and electrical lag, etc., and the eXact desired position can be reached by lslight rotation by the armature carrier by means of the rod 110. The greatest flow of current through the primary coil will probably take place when the parts are yabout in position as shown in Fig. 12, when the magnetic flow has just been reversed through the armature core; and accordingly I have shown the circuit breaker 93, as opening at just .about such point.

A suitable cover plate 150 is provided for the permanent magnet; and the same is adapted to be fastened to the carrier 50 by suitable screws in lugs 151 projecting radially from the hub part 51.

The preferred form as shown in Figs. 1. to 13 is adapted for use in connection with a` one cylinder two cycle engine or a two cylinder four cycle engine, where a spark is required at each rotation of the fly-wheel.

In Fig. 14 I have shown a form of device adapted for use, for example, in connection with a four cylinder four cycle engine where two-sparks are required for each rotation of the fly-wheel. The armature arrangement in this modified form is the same as in the preferred form. Instead of one permanent magnet, however, I provide two permanent magnets, each being somewhat less than semi-circular. I have indicated these magnets as 31"L and lb respectively. In other words, it is as the permanent magnet 31 shown in the preferredform had two air gaps diametrically disposed instead of one. In this modified form, the cover plate 150 on the magnet carrier is provided with an inwardly projecting piece 200, to which is attached a segmental piece of steel 201, adapted to magnetically connect the two poles of the magnets 31a and Sib, which are not passing between the armature shoes. In the drawing', I have considered it unnecessary to show the armature; as it may be assumed that the same is in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the operation of this modified form is substantially similar to the operation of the preferred form, except that two pairs of permanent magnet poles will pass between the armature core heads upon each rotation of the fly-wheel. When f one pair is passing between the armature heads, the other pair will be magnetically bridged by the steel piece 201. By this construction there can be produced two sparks for each rotation of the fi -wheel.

In lig. 15 I have shown another modified form adapted to be used, for example, in connection with a four cylinder four cycle engine in order to give two sparks for each rotation of the fly-wheel. In this modified form there is but one permanent magnet the same as in the preferred form; but there are two armatures, diametrically arranged as shown. For` this construction, the poles of the permanent magnet will produce a spark when passing the heads of one armature, and produce another spark when passing the head-s of the other armature. The two high tension terminals from the two armatures may be led to a suitable distributor 300 which may be of any desired form in order to direct the flowof current to the four wires 301, leading to the four cylinders of the engine. The distributor 300 may be operated in the well known manner by a two to one gear of any suitable form such as indicated by 303.

It is obvious that the modified forms shown in Figs. ll and 15 could be combined. In other words a double permanent magnet could be used with two armatures, in order to give a double or reinforced spark. In such a combination, however, the steel piece 201 would be omitted, as each armature core would perform the same function for the other. Y

Vhile I have shown andv described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that they are capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention tc` claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

lVhat I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a field magnet, any armature coil, a core in the armature coil, one end of the armature core having a single-faced head and the other end having a double-faced head, said single-faced head lying opposite the doublefaced head, and means for passing the poles of the field magnet between the heads of the armature core to bridge the poles of the field magnet through the armature core first in one direction and then in the reverse direction.

2. In a device of the character described, a field magnet, an armature coil, a core in the armature coil, onev end of the armature core having a single-,faced head and the other end having a doublesfaced head, said single-faced head lying opposite the doubles faced head, and means acting through relative movement between the armature core and the field magnet', for bridging Vthe poles of the field magnet throu the arma-` ture core,-first from one face o *the doublef-acedhead-and'tlien from the other.

3.4 In a device of the character described, a' field magnet, an armature coil, a' cere in the armature coil, one end'ofgthe armature core having a single-faced head andthe other endhavinga double-faced head, said single-faced' head lyingk opposite the double: faced head, and means acting thrdughrelaj: tive' movement between the armature core and the field magnet for bringing the two poles of the field magnet successively adje-.z cent the single-faced armature core head, whereby the other pole of thel field magnet will be adjacent oney of the' faces of the double-.faced armature core head.

4. In a device of the characterl described, a field magnet, an armature coil, a core in the armature coil, one end of the armature core having a singleffaced head and the other end having-- a double-faced'head, said single-faced head lying opposite the doublefaced head, and mean's'acting through relative movement between the armature core and the'field magnet whereby the poles of the permanent magnet are bridged through the armature core first vin one direction and then in the opposite direction.

5. In a device of the character described, a field magnet, an armature coil, aj core in the armature coil, one end of the armature core having a. singleffaced headl and the other end having a double-faced head, said single-faced head lying opposite the double.- faced head, and means actingv through relaltive movement betvve'ent-he armature' core and the field magnet whereby the poles of the permanent magnet are bridged through the armature core first in one direction from the single-faced core head to one of the faces of the' double-faced core hcad'and'then in the reverse direction from the other face of the double-faced core'headto the 'singlet faced core head. y

6. In a device ofthe character described, a. field magnet, an armature coil, av4 core in the armature coil, one end of the armature core having a single-faced headand the A other end having a' deelde-faced. head said single-faced head lymg 4OPPOSite the double-,faced head, and means, acting through relative movement between the erf I uatur' Core and the field magnetici' bring mg the N and S poles, of theeld magnet successively adjacent the' sin le-faced armature core head, whereby, W en` theN pole 1s admcelgxt; auch s lngle-Yfaced cere head' the pele: willla@v adlacent we Qi the faces ci the daimler-faced Cere. head-and when the S pele is adlacent the mele-#faced cere heed the. N gele. will benadjacent. the other faire of the 4mitle-faced@are heeft 1n a device Qf the character desrlbegl., a feld ,magnet-5 an armature cell, ajcere in the armature coil, Quei end of the armature cere having a singlefajced head. and the other. end. having. a doubleffad head, said single-faced heed lying QnpOSte the doublefsaced heed., and means acting thleuehmovement ef the field magnet fer alternately bridging the pales thereef in Sequence through the armature Cere first in @ne direction from the single-.framedarmature core head to one of the faces ofthe double-faced armature eerehead and then in. the reverse drectien fram the other face ef the doublefaced armature core head te the Snglefaced armature core head- 8. In a device of the character described, a stationary armature includng a. @Ore and a Coil thereon, one end of Seid armature core having a single-faced head and the otherend a double-faced head, the singlefaced head lying eppeslte the double-,faced head, and a rotating field magnet adapted to'move its pales between said heads and adjacent' the faces thereof- 9., In a device of the character described, a. Statienary armature including a @Ore and a coil'thereon, one end of said armature core having a single-faced yhead and the other end;y a'doubIe-faced head. the singlefaced head lyingy opposite the double-faced head, and a? .rctatintr field magnet adapted to move its poles between said heads and' adjacent the faces thereof, whereby said poles are bridged through the armature core first in one direction' and then in the other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand Vthis 13th day of August.. 1921.

HENRY Gf` COX- 

